Safety dispensing device

ABSTRACT

A dispensing device including a dispensing valve mounted on a container for reciprocation between open and closed positions and a rotary safety ring having means for normally holding the valve in the closed position to prevent dispensing of the contents of the container, but allowing the valve to be moved to the open position when the ring is in one preselected angular position relative to the valve.

United States Patent [191 Linkletter [451 Sept. 30, 1975 SAFETY DISPENSING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Robert P. Linkletter, 875 Comstock Ave., Los Angcles, Calif. 90024 [22] Filed: Apr. 30, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 465,606

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 157,326, June 28, 1971, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl 251/95; 251/100 [51] Int. Cl. F16K 35/00; B67B 5/00 [58] Field of Search 251/95100,

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,706,660 4/1955 Johnson et al 222/4021 1 X 2,715,481 8/1955 McGhie et a1. 222/153 3,422,996 l/l969 Lipman ZZZ/402.1 1 3,477,687 1 [[1969 Doutt 1. 251/100 Primary E.\'aminerHenry.T. Klinksiek 5 7 ABSTRACT A dispensing device including a dispensing valve mounted on a container for reciprocation between open and closed positions and a rotary safety ring having means for normally holding the valve in the closed position to prevent dispensing of the contents of the container, but allowing the valve to be moved to the open position when the ring is in one preselected angular position relative to the valve.

8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures Patent pt. 30,1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,908,958 H US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,98,958

SAFETY DISPENSING DEVICE This is a division of application Ser. No. 157,326, filed June 28, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,828,981.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to dispensing devices and has particular reference to a new and improved safety dispensing device of the type employing reciprocating dispensing valves.

Many toxic or otherwise potentially harmful substances are stored in containers with reciprocating valve-type dispensing devices. Such containers may be either of the pressurized type using aerosol dispensing valves, or of the non-pressurized type wherein the dispensing valve is a gravity flow device.

For example, many substances such as bug killers, oven cleaners, and hair sprays are stored in pressurized containers and use dispensing valves which are actuated by depressing or moving the valve stem relative to the container. Typically, substances such as lighter fluids, washing solutions and drain cleaners often are packaged in non-pressurized containers and employ manually opened reciprocating valves through which the contents are dispensed by gravity.

It is not uncommon for small children to be injured by gaining access to substances stored in containers of the foregoing type since most presently used dispensing devices cannot be locked in the closed position. Further, most presently available dispensing devices are very simple to operate and a simple push or pull or a single movement is all that is required to open the valve for dispensing.

With the present increased interest in providing new and improved means for securing containers against opening by children, there has arisen a need for a recipv rocating valve-type dispensing device which cannot readily be operated by a child. In order to be commercially feasible and still perform the desired safety function, such a device must be inexpensive to manufacture and must be capable of being operated quickly and easily by an adult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a safety dispensing device which is reliable and effective in preventing small children from opening the valve and dispensing the contents of a container with which the device is used, yet is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and can be readily operated by an adult or one familiar with the operation of the device.

More specifically, the safety dispensing closure includes a valve which is mounted for reciprocation between open and closed positions on a container, and has a rotary safety ring which normally prevents movement of the valve to the open, dispensing position. The valve has an abutment surface normally engaged by a corresponding, opposed abutment surface formed on the ring to prevent opening movement of the valve unless the ring is precisely and accurately located in one preselected rotary position relative to the valve.

In one embodiment, the valve is opened by being extended, or moved outwardly, relative to the container, and the abutment surface on the ring is formed by a re- Cess around the inner sidewall of the ring which normally engages a laterally projecting rib on the side of the valve to hold the valve in the closed position. An axially extending release passage along the inner sidewall of the ring allows the valve to be moved to the open position by precisely positioning the ring in an opening position relative to the valve to permit the rib to slide through the channel.

In another embodiment, the valve is opened by being depressed into the container and the abutment surface on the ring is formed by the upper end of a tubular member upstanding from a disc and which normally engages a laterally projecting rib near the top of the valve to hold the valve in the extended, closed position. To allowthe valve to be depressed for opening, an axially directed cutout extending from the top of the tubular member receives the rib when the ring is in one preselected angular position relative to the valve and the valve is depressed to the open position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary prespective view showing a safety dispensing device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, applied to a container and having a safety ring positioned for opening of the valve;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the dispensing device and container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of FIG. 2 with a phantom line representation of the valve raised to the open, dispensing position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 with a phantom line representation of the relative positions of the abutment surfaces on the ring and valve when the ring has been rotated away from the opening position of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is another sectional view similar to FIG. 3 and showing the safety ring rotated away from the opening position of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing another embodiment of a dispensing device in accordance with the invention and shown in the dispensing position with a phantom line representative of the valve in its normal, closed position;

FIG. 8 is an isolated perspective view of the safety ring of the dispensing device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of a third embodiment of a dispensing device in accordance with the invention showing the valve in its normal, closed position; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of the dispensing device of FIG. 10 and showing the valve in the open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 of the exemplary drawings, the present invention is embodied in a new and improved safety dispensing device 10 for use with a container 12 having a neck 14 defining an open mouth. The dispensing device 10 has a closure cap 16 for overlying the mouth of the container 12, and includes a depending annular skirt 18 for securing the cap to the neck 14 of the container.

In this instance the container 12 is a glass bottle and the cap 16 is attached to the neck 14 by internal threads 20 formed on the annular skirt l8 and mating with corresponding threads 22 formed around the neck of the container. An inwardly projecting lip 24 around the lower end of the skirt 18 seats in a circumferential groove 26 around the neck 14 below the threads 22 on the container 12 to restrain the cap 16 against removal once the cap has been fully threaded into place on the container.

An opening 28 is formed in the top wall 30 of the cap 16, and a valve 32 is mounted in this opening for upand-down reciprocation relative to the cap, between a lowered position in which the valve is closed and the container 12 is sealed, and a raised position in which the valve is open for dispensing of the contents of the container through the valve. Herein, the opening 28 in the cap 16 is the inside of a fixed tube 34 formed integrally with the cap and extending both above and below the top wall 30 thereof, and the valve 32 is an elongated movable tube fitted slidably in the fixed tube and held captive therein by abutments 36 and 38 above and below the fixed tube, the abutments being spaced axially apart a greater distance than the length of the fixed tube. Thus, these abutments form a lost-motion connection between the valve 32 and the cap 16 permitting limited reciprocation of the valve relative to the cap.

While this lost-motion connection may be formed in various ways, in this instance a flange 40 is formed around the upper end of the valve 32 to overlie the upper end of the fixed tube 34, the underside of the flange forming the upper abutment 36, and an annular rib is formed around the lower end of the valve below the lower end of the fixed tube, with an outside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the fixed tube, thereby forming the. lower abutment 38. This rib abuts against the lower end of the fixed tube 34, which preferably has an integral and coaxial annular skirt 42 of reduced outside diameter forming its lower end.

To close the valve 32 in its lowered position, a plug 44 is suspended from the lower end of the fixed tube 34 by a plurality of spaced posts 46 (see FIG. 6). The plug 44 comprises a disc 48 spaced below the skirt 42 and supporting an upstanding, upwardly tapered pin 50 in alignment with the interior passage 52 of the valve 32 to be pressed into the passage as the valve is moved downwardly toward the disc. Preferably, the posts 46 and the plug 44 are formed integrally with the cap 16 and the fixed tube 34.

When the valve 32 is in its lowered position, the pin 50' closes the passage 52 and seals the container 12. When the valve 32 is raised to the open position, the passage 52 of the valve communicates with the interior of the container 12 through ports 54 defined between the posts 46, and thus is open to dispense the contents of the container.

In accordance with the primary aspect of the present invention, a safety ring 56 is rotatably mounted on the cap 16 for selective angular movement relative to the cap, and cooperating means are provided on the ring and the valve 32 to prevent movement of the valve to the open position except when the ring is in one preselected angular position relative to the valve, thereby effectively locking the valve in the closed position to prevent opening of the container 12 by a child. Moreover, the dispensing device is relatively inexpensive and simple in construction, and can be opened quickly and easily by an adult acquainted with the proper procedure for opening the valve 32.

To the foregoing ends, a locking projection 58 extends laterally from one side of the valve 32, through the fixed tube 34 and into a locking recess 60 formed in the inside sidewall of the safety ring 56 beneath an internal shoulder 62 which normally overlies the locking projection and prevents raising of the valve to the open position. To permit raising of the valve 32 when the ring 56 is in the preselected angular position, an axial release passage 64 of limited angular extent is formed in the ring to be aligned with'the projection 58 and permit the latter to move axially past the shoulder 62, which herein is an upper radial surface of the locking recess 60. The projection 58 serves the additional purpose of keying the valve 32 to the cap 16 to prevent rotation of the valve with the safety ring 56, thus insuring that the ring moves relative to the projection, into and out of the selected opening position.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the projection 58 extends axially along the side of the valve 32 from the upper end thereof downwardly to approximately the mid-point of the valve. An axially extending keyway 66 along the length of the fixed tube 34 keys the valve 32 to the cap 16 and a radially enlarged portion 68 of the projection at its lower end projects beyond the keyway into the locking recess 60, the upper surface 70 of the radially enlarged portion forming an abutment surface engageble with the shoulder 62 of the ring 56.

The ring 56 rests on the top wall 30 of the cap 16 and surrounds the fixed tube 34 which has an outwardly flared top portion 72 overlying a portion of the ring to hold the ring in position on the cap. In this instance, the locking recess 60 has a rectangular cross-section formed as a cutout from the lower end of the ring 56 and the axial passage 64 extends from the locking recess upwardly to the upper end of the ring.

To open the valve 32, the ring 56 is rotated about the cap 16 to the position where the axial passage 64 is aligned with the projection 58. Indicia 74 and 76 (see FIG. 1) formed on the flange 40 around the upper end of the valve 32 and on the upper end of the ring 56 are provided to give a visual indication of the aligned condition and when in this condition, the operator can then grasp this flange and raise the valve to open the container 12. To reclose the container 12 and lock the valve 32 after use, the valve is pushed downwardly so that the pin 50 seals the passage 52, and the ring 56 is then rotated out of the aligned position to recapture the projection 58 in the locking recess 60 beneath the internal shoulder 62.

An alternative embodiment of a safety dispensing device employing the principles of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9. In this instance, the contents of a metal aerosol-type container 80 are held under pressure and dispensed as a spray or mist (see arrows A of FIG. 7) laterally of the container by a safety dispensing device 82 including a valve 84 mounted for reciprocation relative to the container between open and closed positions.

The valve 84 has a tubular stem 86 coupled to a normally closed, two position mechanism of conventional design (not shown) located within the container 80 and which operates to selectively admit the contents of the container into the central passage 88 of the stem for dispensing. The stem 86 projects out of the container 80 and is attached at its upper end to an actuator 90 having a laterally directed nozzle 92 projecting therefrom, a dispensing passage 94 communicating through the actuator between the stem and the discharge end of the nozzle.

To open the valve 84 for dispensing-the actuator 90 is depressed to move the stem 86 into the container 80 a preset distance and operate the two position mechanism to the open position. After completion of the dispensing operation, the actuator 90 is released and the two position mechanism returns to-the closed position, typically under the bias of a spring, moving the stem 86 and attached actuator to the extended position, as represented by the phantom lines of FIG. 7.

In accordance with the invention, a rotary safety ring 96 encircles the stem 86 above the container 80 and holds the valve 84 to prevent the actuator 90 from being depressed except when the ring is in one preselected rotary position relative to the valve, thus locking the valve in the closed position. To hold the valve 84 in the extended position, the safety ring 96 includes a disc-shaped ring 98 with an upstanding tubular member 100 surrounding the stem 86 and having an upper end 101 which engages a locking projection 102 formed on the underside ofthe actuator 90.

Herein, the actuator 90 has a generally circular horizontal cross-section and the locking projection 102 extends across one radial portion of a generally ringshaped recess 104 formed centrally in the underside of the actuator. Preferably, the tubular member 100 is integrally formed with the disc 98 and is dimensioned to have a length approximately equal to the distance between the upper side of the disc and the lower edge of the locking projection 102, the upper edge 101 of the tubular member herein shown with serrations for increased frictional engagement with the locking projection, the lower side of which forms a downwardly facing abutment surface.

To permit the actuator 90 to be depressed for dispensing, a release passage or notch 106 (see FIG. 8) is formed in the upper portion of the tubular member 100 and extending axially from the upper edge 101. The notch 106 is proportioned and arranged to receive the locking projection 102 when the disc 98 is in a rotary position with the notch aligned with thelocking projection. When so aligned, the actuator 90 can be depressed to dispense the contents of the container 80 since the locking projection 102 is no longer engaged with the upper end 101 of the tubular member l00 but is located above the notch 106.

On depressing the actuator 90 after aligning the disc 98 for opening, the locking projection 102 moves into the notch 106, and the upper end 101 of the tubular member 100 moves into the recess 104 in the underside of the actuator. The contents of the container 80 then flow through the passage 88 in the stem 86 and are dispensed by the nozzle 92 through the passage 94 leading from the stem.

As shown in- FIG. 7, the ring 96 is secured to the container 80 by an inwardly projecting lip 108 formed on the lower end of a cylindrical flange 110 projecting from the underside of the disc 98. This lip 108 seats in a groove 112 around the neck 114 of the container 80 below the mouth and is dimensioned to frictionally grip the neck while allowing the disc 98 to be turned relative to the container. With this arrangement, the disc 98, in effect, forms a cap over the mouth of the container 80, although typically an internal pressure seal cap (not shown) is also provided within the neck 114.

A portion of the dispensing device 82 can be enclosed by a suitable decorative cover 116 which is snap-fit on the container 80 and held in place by an annular lip (also not shown) around the upper end of the body of the container. Herein, the cover 116 has openings in the top and side to permit access to the actuator 90 of the valve 84, and to the safety ring 96, and also to provide an opening for the spray from the nozzle 92. Additionally, the cover 116 holds the valve 84 in a fixed angular position relative to the container '80 to prevent the valve from turning with the safety ring 96.

For visually indicating when the proper rotary position of the ring 96 relative to the valve 84 for dispensing has been achieved, two raised tabs 118 and 120 are provided, one on the cover 116, and one on the upper side of the disc 98. The tabs 118 and 120 are located such that when they are vertically aligned with each other, the notch 106 is beneath the locking projection 102 and the actuator 90 can be depressed.

After the dispensing operation has been completed, the actuator 90 is released to allow the valve 84 to return to its normal position with the stem 86 extended relative to the container 80 and the two position mechanism in the closed position. The disc 98 is then rotated to move the notch 106 out of alignment with the locking projection 102 on the underside of the actuator 90, and thus relock the valve 84 in the closed position.

A further alternative embodiment of a dispensing device 82 in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 and is similar in both structure and operation to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 through 9, parts of this embodiment which aresimilar to parts of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 through 9 being designated with corresponding primed reference numerals. The major distinctions between the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 and that of FIGS. 7 through 9 are that the valve 84' of FIGS. 10 and 11 does not have a nozzle which projects laterally beyond the actuator 90', and no cover is provided over the dispensing device 82'.

In this instance, the alignment indicator tabs 118' and 120 are locatedwith one on the disc 98, and one on the side of the actuator 90' of the valve 84. When the tabs 118 and 120' are vertically aligned, the actuator 90' can be depressed to move the stem 86 and ac- 'tuate the two position mechanism within the container from the normal, closed position to the open, dispensingposition. On depressing the actuator the upper end 101' of the tubular member telescopes into the recess 104 in the underside of the actuator, and the locking projection 102' passes downwardly through the notch 106. This then opens the valve 84' to dispense the contents of the container 80 through the dispensing passages 88 and 94'. After completion of the dispensing operation, the actuator 90 is released to return the valve 84 to the closed position and the disc 98 rotated to relock the valve.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that each dispensing device of the invention requires the preliminary step of aligning the safety ring in one preselected rotary position relative to the valve before dispensing can be acccomplished. This effectively prevents young children from operating the dispensing device since precise knowledge of the required preliminary alignment is necessary for operation.

Further, by virtue of the simple yet effective safety ring, one familiar with the operation of the dispensing device can readily open the valve for dispensing when it is so desired. The dispensing device is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble and can be made from many materials, such as metal or plastic.

While several preferred forms embodying the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations therein can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A safety dispensing device comprising:

a dispensing valve having a tubular portion mounted for limited reciprocation between open and closed positions;

a first abutment formed on said valve and extending laterally thereof;

a rotary safety ring encircling a portion of said tubular portion, and having a second abutment formed thereon which engages said first abutment on said valve and holds said valve in said closed position;

and means on said ring concealed from view when said valve is in said closed position for permitting disengagement of said abutments from each other only when said ring is in one preselected rotary position relative to said valve, thereby to release said valve for movement to said open position.

2. A safety dispensing device as defined in claim 1 in which said first abutment comprises a locking projection extending laterally of said valve, and said means for disengaging said abutments comprises an axial release passage in said ring proportioned and arranged to receive said locking projection only when said ring is in one preselected rotary position relative to said valve.

3. A safety dispensing device as defined in claim 2 in which said locking projection extends from the side of said tubular portion and said second abutment is formed by a locking recess around the inside sidewall of said ring and into which said locking projection extends.

4. A safety dispensing device as defined in claim 3 wherein said valve is extended relative to the container for opening and said axial passage extends from said locking recess upwardly in said inside sidewall of said ring.

5. A safety dispensing device as defined in claim 2 wherein an actuator is attached to the upper end of said tubular portion and said locking projection extends across a portion of the lower end of said actuator, and in which said ring includes a disc and an upstanding tubular member surrounding said tubular portion of said valve, the upper end of said tubular member forming said second abutment on said ring and engaging said locking projection.

6. A safety dispensing device as defined in claim 5 in which said release passage is a notch in the upper portion of said tubular member extending downwardly from said upper end.

7. A safety dispensing device comprising:

a dispensing valve having a tubular portion mounted for limited reciprocation between open and closed positions;

a first abutment comprising a locking projection formed on said valve and extending laterally from the side of said tubular portion;

a rotary safety ring encircling a portion of said tubular portion, and having a second abutment formed by a locking recess around the inside side wall of said ring and into which said locking projection extends and is engaged to hold said valve in said closed position;

and means for permitting disengagement of said abutments from each other comprising an axial release passage in said ring proportioned and arranged to receive said locking projection only when said ring is in said one preselected rotary position relative to said valve, thereby to release said valve for movement to said open position.

8. A safety dispensing device comprising:

a dispensing valve having a tubular portion mounted for limited reciprocation between open and closed positions;

an acutator attached to the upper end of said tubular portion;

a first abutment comprising a locking projection formed on said valve and extending laterally across a portion of the lower end of said actuator;

a rotary safety ring encircling a portion of said tubular portion, and having a second abutment formed thereon which engages said first abutment on said valve and holds said valve in said closed position, said ring including a disk and an upstanding tubular member surrounding said tubular portion of said valve, the upper end of said tubular member forming said second abutment on said ring and engaging said locking projection;

and means for permitting disengagement of said abutments from each other comprising an axial release passage in said ring proportioned and arranged to receive said locking projection only when said ring is in one preselected rotary position relative to said valve, thereby to release said valve for movement to said open position. 

1. A safety dispensing device comprising: a dispensing valve having a tubular portion mounted for limited reciprocation between open and closed positions; a first abutment formed on said valve and extending laterally thereof; a rotary safety ring encircling a portion of said tubular portion, and having a second abutment formed thereon which engages said first abutment on said valve and holds said valve in said closed position; and means on said ring concealed from view when said valve is in said closed position for permitting disengagement of said abutments from each other only when said ring is in one preselected rotary position relative to said valve, thereby to release said valve for movement to said open position.
 2. A safety dispensing device as defined in claim 1 in which said first abutment comprises a locking projection extending laterally of said valve, and said means for disengaging said abutments comprises an axial release passage in said ring proportioned and arranged to receive said locking projection only when said ring is in one preselected rotary position relative to said valve.
 3. A safety dispensing device as defined in claim 2 in which said locking projection extends from the side of said tubular portion and said second abutment is formed by a locking recess around the inside sidewall of said ring and into which said locking projection extends.
 4. A safety dispensing device as defined in claim 3 wherein said valve is extended relative to the container for opening and said axial passage extends from said locking recess upwardly in said inside sidewall of said ring.
 5. A safety dispensing device as defined in claim 2 wherein an actuator is attached to the upper end of said tubular portion and said locking projection extends across a portion of the lower end of said actuator, and in which said ring includes a disc and an upstanding tubular member surrounding said tubuLar portion of said valve, the upper end of said tubular member forming said second abutment on said ring and engaging said locking projection.
 6. A safety dispensing device as defined in claim 5 in which said release passage is a notch in the upper portion of said tubular member extending downwardly from said upper end.
 7. A safety dispensing device comprising: a dispensing valve having a tubular portion mounted for limited reciprocation between open and closed positions; a first abutment comprising a locking projection formed on said valve and extending laterally from the side of said tubular portion; a rotary safety ring encircling a portion of said tubular portion, and having a second abutment formed by a locking recess around the inside side wall of said ring and into which said locking projection extends and is engaged to hold said valve in said closed position; and means for permitting disengagement of said abutments from each other comprising an axial release passage in said ring proportioned and arranged to receive said locking projection only when said ring is in said one preselected rotary position relative to said valve, thereby to release said valve for movement to said open position.
 8. A safety dispensing device comprising: a dispensing valve having a tubular portion mounted for limited reciprocation between open and closed positions; an acutator attached to the upper end of said tubular portion; a first abutment comprising a locking projection formed on said valve and extending laterally across a portion of the lower end of said actuator; a rotary safety ring encircling a portion of said tubular portion, and having a second abutment formed thereon which engages said first abutment on said valve and holds said valve in said closed position, said ring including a disk and an upstanding tubular member surrounding said tubular portion of said valve, the upper end of said tubular member forming said second abutment on said ring and engaging said locking projection; and means for permitting disengagement of said abutments from each other comprising an axial release passage in said ring proportioned and arranged to receive said locking projection only when said ring is in one preselected rotary position relative to said valve, thereby to release said valve for movement to said open position. 